Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Telluride’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Telluride’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white with a little yellow in the labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsishybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘TELLURIDE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Telluride’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellowand red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be plantedin a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Telluride’ is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg,Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was todevelop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Telluride’ originated from a cross made by theinventor in 1999 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female orseed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Hohoemi×JosephHampton×Taisuco Kaaladian’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is thePhalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Malibu Real×amabilis’, unpatented. Thenew Phalaenopsis ‘Telluride’ was discovered and selected by the inventoras a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in acontrolled environment in 2007 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culturewas first performed in November, 2007 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, TheNetherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Telluride’, which in combinationdistinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are white with a little yellow in the labellum;    -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;    -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using        tissue culture;    -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and    -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.        In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Telluride’, the        flowers of the female parent ‘Hohoemi×Joseph Hampton×Taisuco        Kaaladian’ are about 11 cm high and the flowers of the male        parent ‘Malibu Real×amabilis’ are about 7 cm high, whereas the        flowers of ‘Telluride’ are about 9 cm high.        Presently, there is no other commercial cultivar to which        ‘Telluride’ can be meaningfully compared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis ‘Telluride’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘Telluride’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘Telluride’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of‘Telluride’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Telluride’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Telluride’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivarmay vary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Telluride’ asgrown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Telluride’is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phaseof ‘Telluride’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during theday and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Telluride’ are aminimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizerwith level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration ofgrowth of ‘Telluride’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. Theage of the ‘Telluride’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Hohoemi×Joseph Hampton×Taisuco Kaaladian’, unpatented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Malibu Real×amabilis’, unpatented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-7            mm wide and yellow green in color (RHS 144A and RHS 189C);            freely branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in            tissue culture to initiate roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Size at maturity.—Height: about 61 cm. Spread: about 65 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Standard; dark green leaves and a relatively            normal raceme.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.        -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks            2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after            a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of            about 19° C. about 2 peduncles with flowers appear.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before            flowering.        -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two            sides.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval, the tip is little pointy,            straight smooth edges and asymmetric.        -   Texture (upper & underside).—Smooth and leathery.        -   Mature leaf length.—About 17 to 31 cm.        -   Mature leaf width.—About 6 to 9 mm.        -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green (RHS N137B). Under            side: green (RHS 138A) with dark edges (N137B).        -   Leaf base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: upper side:            green (RHS N137A). under side: green (RHS 138B).-   Raceme:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 10.        -   Length.—About 51 to 60 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 to 7 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.        -   Color.—Yellow-green (RHS 144A).        -   Internode.—Length: about 35 mm.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 25 mm. Diameter (at            midpoint): about 25 mm. Shape: egg-shaped/oval. Color:            yellow green (RHS 145B).        -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that            has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a            temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after            a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2            racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers            per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected            approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a            leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.        -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;            lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.        -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.        -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3            days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at            opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: see FIG. 2.            Size: Height: about 90 mm. Diameter: about 89 mm. Depth of            tube: about 17 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: six petals that are            trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are            more pronounced than sepals. Arrangement: Inner whorl of            petals comprises 3 petals, 2 lateral petals and labellum. 2            lateral petals: Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly            cupped. Apex: broadly ovate/round. Margin: entire and weakly            undulate. Base: broadly ovate. Length: about 55 mm. Width:            about 45 mm. Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny.            Under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened):            upper side: edges are white (RHS NN155C). Under side: edges            are white (RHS NN155C).        -   Labellum.—Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent            callosities at central junction of the lateral lobes and            base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward            about the column; the midlobe extends forward and is            terminated by 2 short filiform appendages at the apex.            Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the            mid lobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it. Margin:            entire. Apex: oval. Length: about 21 mm. Width (not            flattened): about 22 mm. Texture: Upper and under surface:            smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): Mid lobe:            upper surface: Main color white (RHS NN155C). Green/yellow            (RHS 1A) at the base left and right and a line in the            center. At the base also a purple haze (RHS N80B) and some            red/purple spots (RHS 59C). At the edge a small stripe            grey/orange (RHS 163A). Under surface: main color is white            (RHS NN155C) at the base left and right some green/yellow            (RHS 1A) and at the edge grey/orange (RHS 163A). At the base            also a purple/violet haze (RHS N81D). Lateral lobes: upper            surface: Main color is white (RHS NN155C), edge yellow (RHS            5A) and some green (RHS150B). At the base red/purple stripes            (RHS 59C). Under surface: white (RHS NN155C) edge yellow            (RHS 5A) and some green (RHS 150B). At the base some            purple/violet spots (RHS N81D). Chirri: long, little curly            (about 19 mm). color: yellow (RHS 5A). Pestle (Callosities):            Length: about 7 mm. Width (not flattened): about 5 mm.            Color: main color is white (RHS NN155C) with yellow edges            and yellow inside (RHS 5A) and red/purple spots (RHS 59C).        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall            shape: egg-shaped (runs out into a point) and weakly cupped.            Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Length: about 46 mm.            Width: about 33 mm. Apex: blunt top with a small point.            Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny. Color            (when fully opened): upper side: Main color is white (RHS            NN155C). At lateral sepals at the base a vague yellow/green            mark (RHS 146D) with red/purple spots (RHS59C). Under side:            main color is white (RHS NN155C). At the base a yellow/green            haze (RHS145C) and a purple/red haze (RHS N74B). This            purple/red haze is clearer at the lateral sepals as with the            dorsal sepal. Some also have a little purple/red (RHS 74B)            on the midvein.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.        -   Column.—Length: about 9 mm. Diameter: about 6 mm. Color:            white (RHS NN155C). Pollinia: Quantity: two. Diameter: about            1 mm. Color: yellow-orange (RHS 23A).        -   Ovary.—Length: about 3 mm. Diameter: about 5 mm. Color:            white (RHS NN155C).        -   Pedicel.—Length: about 35 mm. Diameter: about 2 mm to 4 mm.            Texture: glabrous and smooth. Color: yellow/green (RHS 146A)            to yellow/green (RHS 145C) and close to the flower a haze            (RHS N80B).-   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.    and to a high temperature about 30° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named‘Telluride’, as illustrated and described herein.